The procession began at the Church of the Flagellation on the Via Dolorosa, the same place where all pilgrims begin the Way of the Cross in the holy city.
Jerusalem – Israel (03/24/2023 11:55 AM, Gaudium Press) More than 500 students from eight Catholic schools in Jerusalem gathered this Friday morning, 24, to participate in the Stations of the Cross organized by the Custody of the Holy Land. The procession started at the Church of the Flagellation, on the Via Dolorosa, the same place where all pilgrims start the Way of the Cross in the Holy City.
Jesus taught us that love and forgiveness are stronger than violence
The Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Patton, welcomed the participants of this Way of the Cross explaining that “through his passion and death, Jesus taught us that love and forgiveness are stronger than violence. Walking together on the Via Dolorosa, we ask the Lord for the same capacity to follow him and to forgive and never give in to the temptation of violence.” During the occasion, a red scarf, the color of martyrdom and love, was also distributed to the children and teachers.
Our whole life is a walk with the cross
The procession concluded in the Church of San Salvatore. There, the Vice-Custodian of the Holy Land and Director of the Holy Land Schools, Father Ibrahim Faltas, commented: “We made the Via Dolorosa, and our whole life is a walking with the cross, especially in these days in which we live, and we know what is happening in the whole Holy Land, we wanted to pray for the streets of Jerusalem to prepare well for Easter. So if we die with Christ, we will be resurrected with Christ. We need to learn to forgive.”
Without you, Christianity disappears
Finally, Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa addressed the following words to the young people present: “You are not only Christians, but Christians in Jerusalem. Here are the holy places, the churches, the shrines, but there is a need for “living” communities! Without you, Christianity will disappear: this is an important responsibility. They call us ‘the people of the Cross’ and we should be proud of this because it is the symbol of the love of Jesus: all that we have is the love of Jesus, which is stronger than everything!” (EPC)
Compiled by Zephania Gangl
